Last week, Sur la Route de l’Extreme by Sandrine Lopez and Philip Dupuis was shown on French TV. It’s a well-done documentary of this year’s PBP, with beautiful shots showing the variety of randonneurs who participate, from the fastest to the slowest. There are great shots of the lead peloton. I loved a scene following a faired tricycle recumbent on a descent. In an evocative twilight scene, I spotted a friend leaning against a tree and napping. And I had tears in my eyes when a rider abandoned with back pain.

So you can watch it, too, we have put a recording on the Bicycle Quarterly server. Download it and watch it over the holidays (mp4 file, 155 MB, French language without subtitles). Enjoy!

We would like to wish Happy Holidays to all our readers and customers. May the new year bring you great rides and wonderful memories!

Share this:

Like this:

LikeLoading...

Related

About Jan Heine, Editor, Bicycle Quarterly

I love cycling and bicycles, especially those that take us off the beaten path. I edit Bicycle Quarterly magazine, and occasionally write for other publications. One of our companies, Bicycle Quarterly Press publishes cycling books, while Compass Bicycles Ltd. makes and distributes high-quality bicycle components for real-world riders.

The original was broadcast on French TV. There is no link. A friend recorded the broadcast and sent me an MP2 file. That was too large for downloading, so we converted it to an MP4 file, which is what you can download.

Although I don’t speak French, the potency of this film spoke volumes to me. Both ends of PBP are covered: the power and pressure of riding with the front group, as well as the protracted miseries of life at the rear. Bravo!

Yes, it’s a neat movie. I only wished for a little more coverage of the riders in the “middle,” who have neither the pressure of the lead group, nor the stress of the time limit closing in. To me, that is perhaps the best way of doing PBP.

Not much drama, but a lot of beauty. Seeing riders enter a control, unhurried, but purposeful, and getting back on the road within 10 minutes after having eaten a bowl of soup, would pretty inspirational to me.

I agree! Tough event to film because there is no time for mid-ride coverage/interviews for those enjoying a great ride in and around the bulge. Watching riders adapt to conditions and the realities of PBP (vs. expectations) was an impressive sight

I had not intention to race, and although I understand the appeal, and understanding it was my first PBP, I suspect most riders wanted to complete the ride as best as they could with the resources they had, as I was.

I had no support whatsoever at the controls, besides what the organization arranged (which was top notch in my humble opinion), and had to carry all my stuff with me.

I salute the “first wave speedsters”, but I also have a lot of respect for those that took this ride with all their stuff, and completed it before the end.

I also appreciate how supportive the population was along the path; I never expected such support for cyclists. It still brings tears to my eyes remembering the smiles and warm words of support and I feel I never thanked them enough for that.

Congratulation on completing PBP. I would not call your time “lagging” at all. Riding within your limits, with some margin to the time limit, is what PBP is about. It sounds like you had a great time, too. I agree that PBP is a very emotional experience, because of the support of the local population.